Re: Potter : Mon Oct 11, 2010 2:49 pm  

saint billy wrote:

Because when we make a break, the other team always have 3 or 4 faster playes who are able to get back, and stop us finishing off the breaks. We do make breaks, but in the past we've always had the likes of Albert, Lyon, Long, Sullivan, Newlove etc. who would be flying in support, but now anyone near there speed.

BUt who has? Newlove and especially Lyon were fast for centres, but Sully and Albert were a cut above. Who in today's SL is anywhere near the pace of those two?
I agree that we were short of pace this year, but if we can keep some guys on the pitch (Eastmond and Wheeler) as well as our new centre, I think that will improve things no end from this point of veiw.

No disrespect to Flanders, but I would have been interested to see what sort of specialist aussie centre we could've got for his wedge.

Re: Potter : Mon Oct 11, 2010 2:55 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

BUt who has? Newlove and especially Lyon were fast for centres, but Sully and Albert were a cut above. Who in today's SL is anywhere near the pace of those two?
I agree that we were short of pace this year, but if we can keep some guys on the pitch (Eastmond and Wheeler) as well as our new centre, I think that will improve things no end from this point of veiw.

No disrespect to Flanders, but I would have been interested to see what sort of specialist aussie centre we could've got for his wedge.

I'd say that most teams have wingers and centres that are much faster than ours, or they always seem to anyway.

If you look at those teams around us (Warrington, Wigan and Leeds), they have:

Warrington: Hicks, Riley, King.
Wigan: Richards, Roberts, Goulding.
Leeds: Hall, Donald.

Who have scored some lengthy trys this season, and those are just off the top of my head, they probably have others. When was the last time we scored a length of the field try?

When we make breaks, we always seem to get caught, so obviously teams have much faster players than us. We don't get the space because we are not fast enough and we always get caught.

Re: Potter : Mon Oct 11, 2010 3:04 pm  

saint billy wrote:

I'd say that most teams have wingers and centres that are much faster than ours, or they always seem to anyway.

If you look at those teams around us (Warrington, Wigan and Leeds), they have:

Warrington: Hicks, Riley, King.
Wigan: Richards, Roberts, Goulding.
Leeds: Hall, Donald.

Who have scored some lengthy trys this season, and those are just off the top of my head, they probably have others. When was the last time we scored a length of the field try?

When we make breaks, we always seem to get caught, so obviously teams have much faster players than us. We don't get the space because we are not fast enough and we always get caught.

I just think that as well as being a bit short of pace, our game plan has dictated that perhaps we only tend to spread the ball when we're in the opposition 20m. I'll tell you another problem, only having one proper centre. In 2004 Willie Talau was on fire until Gleeson got his betting ban. After that his form was severly reduced, due to the opposition only having to defend one side of the pitch against a proper centre and the other side against a 2nd row standing in the centre. Therefore, the fitness of wheeler (who I thought was looking more and more like a proper centre), or the integration of Tom Armstrong is an important factor.

Re: Potter : Mon Oct 11, 2010 3:09 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

I just think that as well as being a bit short of pace, our game plan has dictated that perhaps we only tend to spread the ball when we're in the opposition 20m. I'll tell you another problem, only having one proper centre. In 2004 Willie Talau was on fire until Gleeson got his betting ban. After that his form was severly reduced, due to the opposition only having to defend one side of the pitch against a proper centre and the other side against a 2nd row standing in the centre. Therefore, the fitness of wheeler (who I thought was looking more and more like a proper centre), or the integration of Tom Armstrong is an important factor.

I'd agree with that. Just the other day, i was talking to my dad about the last time we actually had two out and out centres in the side, and we still don't IMO. Unless one of the youngsters can step up and make that position there own, we still only have one centre in Shenton. Although Meli shown glimpses that he could become a good centre.

Re: Potter : Mon Oct 11, 2010 3:20 pm  

saint billy wrote:

I'd agree with that. Just the other day, i was talking to my dad about the last time we actually had two out and out centres in the side, and we still don't IMO. Unless one of the youngsters can step up and make that position there own, we still only have one centre in Shenton. Although Meli shown glimpses that he could become a good centre.

I think Wheeler could do it. I think he's shown some really nice touches and IIRC even did Matt King on the outside once last season, looking every bit the natural centre. Although I'm a little disspaointed by the lack of oppotunity Tom Armstorng got towards the end of the season.

Re: Potter : Mon Oct 11, 2010 5:19 pm  

i know we finished 2cnd and got to the grand final (with our usual loss).
but in all honestly we must be the slowest team in superleague.
as someone mentioned after the likes of sullivan, darren albert, jamie lyon etc
speed and back up have never been replaced at our club.